Rep. Kim Votes to Lower Health Care Costs, Expand Coverage

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release:

Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) voted to pass Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act, H.R. 1425, a bill that would lower health care costs and expand coverage during the largest public health crisis in generations. This vote also comes as the Trump Administration is working through the U.S. Supreme Court to abolish the Affordable Care Act and the pre-existing conditions protection coverage that comes with it.

"Protecting the health care of New Jerseyans has never been more important, and the improvements in this bill have never been more necessary," said Congressman Kim, who continued, "We've seen more than 13,000 of our neighbors die and tens of thousands infected during this pandemic - the choice we have is clear: we can make sure more of our neighbors can access affordable health care, or we can let the Trump Administration kick them off their plans and leave them in the cold. I am proud to stand with the families in Burlington and Ocean Counties who deserve the peace of mind and certainty of quality, affordable health care, and against any effort to take that away from them."

Last week, Congressman Kim was joined by senior members of the House in introducing this bill. His full remarks can be watched by clicking here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMoVBj948iY.

If passed, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act would:

* Lower health coverage costs by dramatically expanding the ACA's insurance affordability subsidies to cover more middle-class families and to be more generous for those already receiving them. Many enrollees will see their premiums cut by half or more, and for the first time, no one will have to pay more than 8.5 percent of their income for a silver plan in the ACA marketplaces.

* Negotiate for lower prescription drug prices by delivering the power to negotiate lower drug prices so that Americans no longer have to pay more for our medicines than Big Pharma changes for the same drugs overseas.

* Expand coverage by encouraging Medicaid expansion and the expansion of state-based exchanges.

* Combat inequity in health coverage faced by communities of color by expanding more affordable coverage to vulnerable populations and fighting the maternal mortality epidemic by requiring states to extend Medicaid or CHIP coverage to new mothers for a full year post-partum.

* Crack down on junk plans & strengthens protections for people with pre-existing conditions by reversing the Trump Administration's expansion of junk health insurance plans that do not provide coverage for essential medical treatments and drugs, and that are allowed to discriminate against people with pre-existing medical conditions.

Congressman Kim has been a leader in Congress on expanding affordable health care. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act includes language from the SAVE Act, Congressman Kim's first piece of legislation introduced, which is a bipartisan bill to drive down costs by helping states create their own state-based exchanges. Congressman Kim introduced the Helping Seniors Afford Health Care Act, which would expand eligibility for the Medicare Savings Program so more seniors get help paying for health care. He also helped lead the effort to pass the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, H.R. 3, which would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, crack down on price gouging and expand Medicare coverage to dental and vision care.

Congressman Kim is a member of the bipartisan House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, where he serves as one of twelve members of the House tasked with conducting oversight over programs aimed at ending the Coronavirus pandemic and helping address the economic impact it's having on the American people. Congressman Kim is also a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Small Business. More information about Congressman Kim can be found on his website by clicking here https://kim.house.gov/.